A new set of income statistics answers those questions quite clearly: Yes, college is worth it, and it’s not even close. For all the struggles that many young college graduates face, a four-year degree has probably never been more valuable.

The pay disparity between college graduates and those without a degree reached a new high last year, the Times says. On average, Americans with a four-year college degree made 98 percent more an hour in 2013 than those without. “The decision not to attend college for fear that it’s a bad deal is among the most economically irrational decisions anybody could make in 2014,” Leonhardt wrote.

MIT economist David Autor says the pay gap is a result of the U.S. not producing enough college graduates nor preparing enough students to attend college. The Times noted:

According to a paper by Mr. Autor published Thursday in the journal Science, the true cost of a college degree is about negative $500,000. That’s right: Over the long run, college is cheaper than free. Not going to college will cost you about half a million dollars.

But before you hastily enroll yourself or your son or daughter in college, it’s wise to carefully select a course of study and consider your probability of graduating. Forbes contributor Andrew Kelly wrote:

Blanket statements like “college is clearly worth it” have led far too many to blindly invest in any college at any cost.

For me, a more effective message would be to tell a prospective student that, yes, completing college is, on average, worth the time and money. But not all postsecondary options are created equal, so choose the one that reflects your talents and abilities and gives you the best chance of success. And if you choose to go, work your tail off to make sure you finish.

The message here seems clear. College is unequivocally worth it, if you are confident that you will graduate.

Do you agree that college is worth it? Share your thoughts below or on our Facebook page.

Walmart discounts a selection of electronics, phones, laptops, home items, video games, and more during its Holiday Specials Sale. Shipping ... Read
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Updated: 7 hr 5 min ago

Today only, Raise.com offers a $20 Uber Gift Card for $10. (It'll be delivered via email.) That's a savings of $10 and a very large discount for a $20 card. (We saw a $100 gift card for $90 in August.) It's limited to one per customer.

SanDisk cuts up to 50% off a selection of memory cards, flash drives, and accessories as part of its Black ... Read
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Updated: November 11, 2017

Walmart discounts a selection of Stanley tools, with prices starting at 98 cents. Opt for in-store pickup to avoid the $5.99 shipping charge, where applicable. (Orders of $35 or more bag free shipping.) It yields a number of great deals on toolbox necessities. (Amazon matches some of the deals listed, but only with orders of $25 or more.) Some best bets:

Walmart discounts a selection of Stanley tools, with prices starting at 98 cents. Opt for in-store pickup to avoid the ... Read
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Updated: 3 days 8 hr ago

Walmart discounts a selection of Hanes apparel, socks, and underwear, with prices starting at $4.50. Choose in-store pickup on most items to dodge the shipping fees, which start at $5.99. A couple of best bets:

Walmart discounts a selection of Hanes apparel, socks, and underwear, with prices starting at $4.50. Choose in-store pickup on most ... Read
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Updated: 5 days 16 hr ago

Burberry cuts up to 50% off a selection of men's, women's, and kids' apparel, shoes, and accessories. Plus, all items qualify for free shipping. That's tied with our mention from June as the best sale we've seen from Burberry this year. Men's jackets start at $650 $395, women's jackets at $495 $350, women's boots at $575, and men's shoes at $165.

Burberry cuts up to 50% off a selection of men's, women's, and kids' apparel, shoes, and accessories. Plus, all items ... Read
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Updated: 2 weeks ago

Between 2 pm and 5 pm local time at participating Starbucks locations, buy one handcrafted beverage and get a second of equal or lesser value for free via this mobile coupon. (Enter your mobile number to receive this coupon via text.) That's tied with our mention from a month ago as the best BOGO offer we've seen on any beverages from Starbucks this year (although that was limited to just holiday drinks). Click here to find your nearest location. Deal ends December 24.

For its members, Costco takes an extra $3 off when you buy three apparel items or pairs of shoes. (The discount applies in cart.) Even better, you'll get an additional $3 off with every additional qualifying item you add to cart, with a maximum discount of $30 off with 12 items. Plus, these orders receive free shipping. Luggage, handbags, socks, and underwear are excluded. Deal ends December 17.

Note: Non-members will incur additional fees on these purchases. Many items are available for members only.

For its members, Costco takes an extra $3 off when you buy three apparel items or pairs of shoes. (The ... Read
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Updated: 1 week 4 days ago

Costco offers its members the 32 Degrees Men's Hooded Down Jacket in several colors (Black pictured) for $19.99 with free shipping. (Non-members pay an extra $1.99.) That's $10 under our September mention, $5 off, and the best price we've seen. It's available in sizes from S XL to 3XL.

They also have the 32 Degrees Men's Hooded Stretch Matte Down Jacket in several colors for $19.99 with free shipping. (Non-members pay an extra $1.99.) That's $5 off and the best price we could find. It's available in sizes from S M to XXL. Both deals end December 24.

Udemy continues to offer a selection of online courses for free. Each course includes hours of content and most are ... Read
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Updated: 1 week 6 days ago

IKEA cuts at least 20% off and as much as 40% off a selection of its furniture, decor, bedding, kitchen items, and more. (Some items are only available to be purchased in-store and are marked as such on the product page.) Opt for in-store pickup to avoid shipping costs, which start at $10. A couple of best bets:

IKEA cuts at least 20% off and as much as 40% off a selection of its furniture, decor, bedding, kitchen ... Read
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Updated: 5 hr 2 min ago

Macy's discounts a selection of Tommy Hilfiger All American II towels and washcloths with prices starting at $1.99, as listed below. Pad your order with a beauty item (they start at $3) to bag free shipping; otherwise, shipping adds $10.95. (Orders of $25 or more also get free shipping.) Each size is at least $6 off and the lowest price we've seen. The deals:

Macy's discounts a selection of Tommy Hilfiger All American II towels and washcloths with prices starting at $1.99, as listed ... Read
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Updated: 1 day 7 hr ago

Walmart discounts a selection of women's clearance sleepwear, with prices starting from $2. Shipping adds $5.99, although orders of $35 or more bag free shipping. (In-store pickup is also available for many items.) A couple of best bets, each with pickup:

KFC Ltd. now offers this Internet Escape Pod for $5,000 with free shipping. That's a 50% drop from last week, and no, we can't believe it's still in stock, either. It measures 7-foot x 7-foot x 6.6-foot and is constructed of steel, stainless steel mesh, and an 8-lb. foam Colonel Sanders. This cage is designed to block the Internet from reaching your devices. (You could also Google how to make your own Faraday cage, and possibly save even more money that way. But really, can you make it look as stunning as this?)

Note that this includes assembly and installation service; a qualified assembler shall put together and install the pod on a mutually agreed upon date.

KFC Ltd. now offers this Internet Escape Pod for $5,000 with free shipping. That's a 50% drop from last week, ... Read
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Updated: 2 weeks ago

As one of its daily deals, Macy's offers a selection of 8-piece comforter sets for $29.99 with free shipping. (Twin and twin XL sets only have six pieces.) That's $5 under our mention from last month (which also required padding for free shipping) and a savings of $70 on each set. Deal ends December 13. A couple of best bets:

Walmart offers its Walmart Baby Welcome Box for free when you fill out this short form. It includes stage-relevant product ... Read
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Updated: November 8, 2017

Kidde has issued a recall of 37.8 million fire extinguishers with plastic handles due to a failure to discharge. In addition, the nozzle can detach with enough force to cause harm. 134 models manufactured between January 1, 1973 and August 15, 2017 are included in this recall. Injuries, property damage, and one death have been reported, and those with affected models should immediately contact Kidde to request a free replacement. Click here to read more about this recall.

Kidde has issued a recall of 37.8 million fire extinguishers with plastic handles due to a failure to discharge. In ... Read
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Updated: November 2, 2017

For the brave and/or eccentric among us, Macy's offers the OppoSuits Men's SantaBoss Slim-Fit Suit and Tie for $68.99 with free shipping. That's the lowest price we could find by $11. Suitable for holiday parties, a few rounds of Elf Bowling, or horrifying your mother-in-law at dinner, it's available in sizes 36 to 46 50.

MoviePass allows users to see one movie per day each month in over 4,000 theaters across the United States. Depending on where you live, that means you can see up to 31 movies every month at a per-month cost that's less than the standard admission to just one film. Fandor, meanwhile, is a streaming service with over 5,000 movie titles.